Scottish Parliament

Written Answers

Thursday 12 August 1999

Scottish Executive

Education

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of the funding arrangements for Glasgow Caledonian University in respect of the education and training of orthoptists.

Henry McLeish: The Scottish Higher Education Council allocates funding by subject groups which, for Orthoptics, would be under "Other Health and Welfare". In 1998/99, the gross unit of teaching funding allocated to Glasgow Caledonian University was £5,326 (which includes a tuition fee of £1,000). In the academic session 1998-99 there were 46 students studying for a BSc in Orthoptics of which it is estimated 8 would be considered "fees only students". Therefore, estimated resources received by Glasgow Caledonian University in respect of this course for 1998-99 is £210,388.

Post Office

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to Her Majesty’s Government regarding the impact on Scottish Postal services of the possible sale of the Post Office and, if so, what representations it will make.

Henry McLeish: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government over a range of matters, including those relating to the Post Office.

Post Office

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made or will make to Her Majesty’s Government about changes proposed in the postal service, in particular about how these changes will affect postal services in Scotland.

Henry McLeish: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government over a range of matters, including those relating to the Post Office.